At the opening meeting of the second session of the INC
(Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework
Convention on Climate Change), Indian delegate Chandrasekhar
Dasgupta told the INC in introducing an Indian draft legal
text, that an equitable solution was possible only on the
basis of significant reductions in per capita emissions of
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in Industrialised countries, and
rising per capita emissions in the Third World, both
converging in the longterm on a common per capita
ceiling.

The touchstone of all proposals on a convention over
climate change, India said, should be the principle of
equity and any agreement should have firm commitments, as an
integral part of the convention and protocols on
additionality of financial resources and transfer of
technology to the countries of the South.

Besides India, China, Vanuatu (on behalf of a number of
Isiand developing countries) and Senegal were among those
who also made these points.

The Indian non-paper has brought in the concept of
stabilising and establishing ceilings on carbon dioxide
(C02) emissions by countries on a per capita basis. There is
also a similar concept in a French non-paper and the French
delegate in his intervention endorsed the Indian idea in
this regard.

Any equitabie arrangement, India told the INC, would have
to invoive the agreement of countries towards longterm
objectives not exceeding agreed per capita GHG
emissions.

Since the overconsumption of energy and emissions of
industriallsed countries were responsible for the
incremental globa warning, it was for these countries to
assume the necessary obligations to stabilise and reduce
their energy consumption and emissions through promotion
of'sustainable life-styles'.

India made clear that it was for the industrialised
countries with high per capita energy consumption and
emission of GHGs, particularly carbon dioxide emissions, to
commit themseives to stabilise and reduce their per capita
energy.

The negotiations, Dasgupta underlined, were of the
highest importance not only from an environment but also
economic perspective. The issues were directly connected
with levels and patterns of energy consumption and thus
levels and patterns of industrialisation, and linked with
questions relating to agriculture, animal husbandry and
transportation, 'In short, almost every major sector of
global economy'.

The outcome of the negotiations could profoundly affect
the pattern of intemational economic relations.

In judging any proposals in the negotiations, equity
should be the touchstone and 'those responsible for
environmental degradation should also be responsive for
taking corrective measures'.

The problem of global warming was caused not by GHG
emissions as such ~but by excessive levels of per capita
emissions of these gases'. If per capita emissions of all
countries had been on the same levels as of Third World
countries, 'the world would not today have faced the threat
of global warming'.

'It follows, therefore, that developed countries with
high per capita emission levels of GHGs are responsible for
incremental global warming....and they have a corresponding
obligation to take corrective action. Moreover, these are
also the countries which have the greatest capacity to bear
the burden...They possess the financial resources and the
technology needed for corrective actions and this further
reinforced their obligations.

Redressal required

This did not mean that Third World countries should be
'silent spectators'. While they had no 'legal
responsibility', at least for the near future, to take
corrective measures, they might, in accord-

ance with their national development plans, priorities
and objectives, 'consider feasible measures, provided the
full incremental costs involved are met by provision of new
and additional financial resources from developed
countries'.

They would also require 'assured access to technology on
preferential terms-. Also, financial and technical
cooperation necessary to cope with the adverse impact of
climate change should also be extended to Third World
countries.

The development process, the Indian delegate stressed,
would inevitably lead to increased GHG emissions in the
Third World. In particuiar, the process of Industriallsation
woud require 'a redressal of the yawning gap in current
levels of per capita consumption of energy between developed
and developing countries'.

'There can clearly be no justification, in either
environmental or economic terms, for retarding grovth in the
developing countries,' Dasgupta said.

'An equitabie solution can only be found on the basis of
significant reductions in levels of per capita emissions in
developed countries, so that over a period of years these
converge with rising per capita emissions in developing
countries.

'All states should accept an obligation not to exceed an
agreed common per capita emission ceiling. This should be
the common responsibility of all states.

The responsibiiity is common but differentiated, inter
alia, in respect of time. Developing countries will have to
accept obligations as soon as their per capita emissions
reach the agreed common ceiling.'

Dasgupta said that there was sufficient evidence to
establish that the industrial countries could effect
necessary reductions in per capita emission 1evels without
sacrificing high living standards.

The answer to this lay partly in technology and 'partly
in promoting sustainable lifestyles in opulent
countries'.

The example of Japan showed that for countries with
necessary capital resources. environmentally sound
technologies were compatible with high per capita
productivity. Further research and development would provide
new opportunities in this direction.

But this approach had to be supplemented by 'avoidance of
wasteful consumption patterns, i.e. promotion of sustainable
lifestyles'. This should be done by shifting consumption
away from items with high environmental or social costs
which are not reflected in the prices actually paid by the
consumer. In this way it was perfectly possible to preserve
high living standards while minimising threats to the
environment.

'Wasteful consumption patterns in opulent societies are
imposing an unbearable burden on our environment. This must
be rectified if mankind is to live in harmony with our
natural environment. On a global level, the adoption of
sustainable lifestyles is essential for achieving
sustainable development'.

In this view, India said, a framework convention should
include as elements: a preambular section; an article on
definitions; commitments on research, emissions, finance and
technology transfer; a mechanism for financial and
technology flows; other institutional arrangements including
a Conference of Parties and a Secretariat; and procedures
for adoption, amendment, signature, ratification etc.

The commitments on financing and technology, Dasgupta
said, 'should not be delinked or treated separately from
other commitments'. Commitments on further research were of
primary importance in view of large gaps and uncertainties
in scientific understanding of climate change phenomena.

It was also 'essential' that the mechanism for financial
and technology flows 'should be democratically administered
by the parties to the Convention, rather than through
institutions where donors have disproportionate
influence.'

At the current session of the INC, India said it should
be possible to complete a first reading of draft articles to
help them Identify areas where there was consensus and where
furtherwork would be needed, including areas of major
differences.

China's Sun Lin, while introducing a Chinese non-paper,
expressed satisfaction with the Indian document which, he
added, 'to a large extent reflected a common view shared by
many developing countries' and which would make a
constructive contribution to the negotiating process.

Equitable distribution

In order to be able to conclude the negotiations and sign
a convention in 1992 the convention should provide some
elements close to a consensus and reach an agreement on
generai principles and obligations of all states. It must
also enable, in the light of updated scientific knowledge
and technological capabilities, to take appropriate steps to
address climate change.

Such a document should also take into account the special
circumstances and needs of the developing countries and
contain an appropriate obligation acceptable to most of
them. Serious differences should be left for negotiations at
a larger stage.

New Zealand's C D Beeby referred to the difficulties
faced in implementation of the Vienna treaty and the
protocols on ozone and said the climate convention should
provide for monitoring and assessment of compliance with
obligations and for processes for amendments that would be
speedy. There should also be appropriate provisions to deal
with dispute settlement including compulsory third party
arbitration.

Francois-Roger Cazaia of France underscored the view of
the special responsibilities of the industrialised countries
to take corrective measures, the need for participation of
maximum number of countries for any effective actions to
counter the GHG effects and for equitable distribution of
burden among countries and regions.

The Industrial countries he said had to undertake the
greatest possible harmonisation in order to avoid distortion
of competition. It was also essential to take into account
the particular needs of Third World countries for transfer
of technology and financial flows.

While all countries should have commitments, the nature
would depend on the categories and situations of countries
according to the criteria. In this regard France had
'objective sympathy' for the Indian document for ceilngs
based on per capita emissions of GHG and particularly C02.
Other criteria like per capita GNP etc. could also be taken
into account.

In the French view each country should develop and
outline its national strategies and targets and set up a
dialogue on these including through a scientific or
monitoring commttee. All this also underscored the need for
a strong secretariat which could not function on the basis
of existing resources (the usual UN formula to avoid
increased budgets) but would need additional resources.

Norway's Kare Bryn said there were many inter-linked
elements: global targets and national commitments,
implementation through national actions and through
cooperation across national boundaries. provisions for
adequate and genuine additional financial resources and
arrangements for technology transfers to the developing
countries and those with abnormal burdens.

Vanuatu's Robert F Van Lierop, speaking for a group of 34
small Island countries, also gave broad support to the
Indian paper and then went on to outline the special
problems of these small island countries in meeting the
adverse effects of climate change and their need for
international help.

Those who have the financlal and technological resources,
must develop the necessarily political will to take measures
to arrest the global warming phenomenon and for coping with
the adverse effects of the change he said.